The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-15
A PAIR OF BLUEBIRDS.


kind at the same time is to observe the
talk between them, which has great inter-
est for me. This pair were exceedingly
talkative at first, uttering not only the
usual musical three syllable MARBLE or
call, which Lanier aptly calls the "heaven-
ly word," but often soft twittering talk,
Of varying infection and irregular length,
which was certainly the most interesting
bird talk ever heard. When they could
not see me they INDUCED in it more free
ly, with changing tones at different times,
and after they became accustomed to the
room and its inhabitants it was neither
30 frequent nor SO earnest. Often at
night, when one-perhaps in dream
fell off the perch, heard much low, ten
der talk, almost in whisper, before all
was quiet again; and when another bird
flew wildly around the room, there was
always remark or two in an interested
tone. The male did most of the talking,
carrying on, often for long time, con-
slant flow of what sounded marvelously
like comments and criticisms, while his
mate replied occasionally with the usual
call. Certain notes plainly had specific
meaning, even to the others in the room.
One in particular was peculiar and low,
but upon its utterance every bird became
instantly silent and looked at the cage,
while the Lluebirds themselves were so
absorbed, gazing apparently into blank
space, that could easily put my hands
on them before they observed me. For
several minutes this low note would be
repeated, and all the birds stare at moth
ing, till began to feel almost uucom-
Portable, as have done at similar staring
at nothing on the part of animals. One
can hardly resist the feeling that these
creatures see something too intangible for
our eyes. On one occasion, when the
male uttered this note, the female was
just about to eat; she stood as if petri-
fed, with head half way down to the food,
for two or three minutes.
What have called talk was very low
twitter in a conversational tone, on one
note, not at all in singing tone, like the
usual MARBLE or call. 81 have also heard it
from wild bluebirds, when I could get
near enough. From the first, as said
above, the male did most of the talking,
and the habit grew upon him, till he be-
came regular bsbbler, standing on the
top perch, and keeping it up persistently
all day long. I think it arose from the
fact that the greater number of birds in
the room were thrushes, who sang very
softly, without opening the mouth. With
this gentle ripple of song the bluebird's
talk harmonized perfectly, and he almost
entirely discontinued his lovely song, and
INDUCED himself in talk by the hour
Strange to say, very soon noticed that
his mate did not approve Of it, and would
not stand on the perch beside him while
he persisted in it. At first she turned
sharply toward him, and he showed that
he understood her wishes by ceasing for
a while; but as the habit grew, and he
was not SO easily silenced, she more and
more deserted his side, and after two OF
three weeks heard occasionally gentle
remonstrance from her. do not believe
a really harsh tone can come from blue
bird throat. One day they were taking
their usual midday nap on the same perch
when thrush across the window began
his low song. That started up the blue
bird, and he added his talk, which awsk-
ened his mate. She endured it for about
five seconds, and then she suddenly
stretched the wing nearest to him so far
that he was obliged to move away, when
she instantly hoped down herself.-OL
ive Thorne Miller, an October Atlantic.